February 13, 2004

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Palo Alto Online

Stanford women hope to ruin Cal's perfect swim record

by Rick Eymer

The Stanford women's swimming team can be grateful for one thing: California's Natalie Coughlin can't swim every event. That's a good thing since she's the national leader in four events and is in the top 10 in two others. Cal also has the top time in two relays.

Avery Aquatic Center will be full of potential Olympians when the fifth-ranked Bears (5-0 in the Pac-10, 8-0 overall) visit the third-ranked Cardinal (3-1, 5-1) on Saturday at noon in the final Pac-10 dual meet of the season.

Coughlin will likely win any of the four events she enters, though one of the top races could come in the 100 fly, where Stanford's Dana Kirk owns the sixth best time in the country (53.48 for yards), just ahead of Coughlin's 53.75.

Coughlin swam the 100 fly against both USC and UCLA last weekend. Dana Kirk is unbeaten in the 100 fly this season.

Stanford senior Tara Kirk will likely stay unbeaten for her collegiate career in the 100 breast. She's top-ranked in the event in 1:00.2 (yards). Menlo School grad Gina Merlone, a sophomore at Cal, will get a chance to test herself against Kirk in the breaststroke.

With Coughlin expected to be involved in four victories, Stanford will have to rely on swimmers such as Lacey Boutwell, who is among the national leaders in the 100 free and 200 free, and Kristen Caverly, who ranks among the top swimmers in the 200 IM and 400 IM.

Stanford has an all-time 28-2 record against California, and has not lost to the Bears since the 1975-76 season.

Last year, Caverly's win the 200 IM in the meet's next-to-last event helped clinch Stanford's 154-146 victory.
Women's soccer

Stanford gained a couple of players but lost a coach this week.

First, Bay Area high school seniors Elizabeth George and Erica Holland signed letters of intent to join Stanford next season.

Meanwhile, assistant coach Stephanie Erickson announced she's leaving after four years to take an assistant coaching position at her alma mater Northwestern University.

Erickson, the 2002 Soccer America co-Coach of the Year, helped the Cardinal to a 60-21-5 record and four NCAA post season appearances during her stay.

George is currently at Carondelet, and plays for the under-17 national team. Holland attends College Park High in Walnut Creek and plays for the California Northstars, coached by former Menlo College coach Tony Igwe.

"This year's recruiting class is an exciting group," Stanford coach Paul Ratcliffe said. "They are quality student-athletes who will make an impact on the future of Stanford women's soccer."

Erickson is best known for taking over the team in 2002 when Andy Nelson left abruptly just before the season opener. With Paul Sapsford, Erickson led Stanford to a 21-2 mark and the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament.

"I want to thank the entire Stanford athletic and academic communities that have made my experience here so amazing," Erickson said. "It was a very hard decision to move on, but it is the best decision for me and my family at this time. I am really looking forward to returning to my alma mater and living closer to family. I will miss the Stanford women's soccer players very much as they have given me four unforgettable years."

A four-year starting forward at Northwestern (1994-98), Erickson is the all-time leading scorer in school history. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in secondary education and Spanish.
Women's golf

Stanford freshman Lauren Todd recorded her best finish of the season as the Cardinal finished 11th in the three-day Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge completed on Wednesday.

Stanford shot a 315 on the final day of competition and finished at 931.UCLA won the team title with a 876.

Todd led Stanford with her 18th place finish. She shot rounds of 72, 74 and 81 for a 227 total.
Women's gymnastics

Seventh-ranked Stanford (5-2) travels to No. 11 Oklahoma for a meet today at 7 p.m.

Oklahoma is averaging 196.161 and rank fifth in the country on the uneven bars (49.211), seventh on floor (49.264), and 15th on the beam (48.954).

The Cardinal rank third in the country on bars (49.250), ninth on floor (49.250), 12th on beam (49.080) and 18th on vault (48.985). Individually, sophomore All-American Natalie Foley ranks 10th (39.495) in the all-around and 11th (9.890) on bars. Senior All-American Lise Léveillé ranks fifth (9.930) in the floor exercise, while fellow senior All-American Lindsay Wing (9.915) ranks fourth on the balance beam.
Men's volleyball

Ninth-ranked Stanford hopes to stop a three-match losing streak this weekend, but it won't be easy. Hawaii is ranked second in the nation.

The Cardinal (3-3, 5-7) hosts Hawaii today and Saturday at 7 p.m. in Maples Pavilion.
Baseball

Sophomore Mark Romanczuk takes the mound today when Stanford (5-1) opens a three-game series with visiting Kansas at 6 p.m.

Stanford, ranked fourth in the Baseball America Top 25, has never met the Jayhawks before on a baseball diamond.

The series continues with a 1 p.m. game on Saturday, with Jeff Gilmore getting the starting nod, and concludes with an 11 a.m. game on Sunday.

Stanford has won the last 12 games its played at Sunken Diamond dating to last year and the season-opening three-game sweep of Cal State Fullerton.

Stanford has outscored its opponents by a 52-21 count this season, and is hitting .310 as a team with a 3.40 ERA.
Softball

Tenth-ranked Stanford (3-1) will be looking for a second straight tournament title at home this weekend when it hosts Santa Clara today at 3 p.m. to open the Stanford Invitational.

Pacific and Missouri are also entered.

The championship game is slated for noon on Sunday.

Freshman leadoff hitter Jackie Rinehart collected eight hits and is batting .615 after the first four games.

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